Chapter 102: Determined to Secure Her Immediate Acquittal Regardless of the Cost

Wen Zhixia had never truly believed in the word "forever," for it seemed too intangible, too elusive. She always felt that people could never remain deeply devoted for long, as tastes change and desires shift over time.

But when Gu Pingsheng appeared by her side, calling her “little bookworm” and constantly saying, “Pay attention to me,” the calm lake of her heart was disturbed, as if someone had thrown a pebble into still waters, sending out delicate ripples.

She couldn't understand how someone like him existed—persistent to the point of stubbornness, wildly unruly, yet always acting as if they were close friends. It was nothing more than the fact that they had once together confronted a hooligan in an alley, and from then on, he insisted they were “one of a kind.”

His favorite pastime was interrupting her when she was reading. Once, a teacher caught him red-handed and warned him not to hinder her studies.

Such an embarrassing scene—if it had been anyone else, being scolded in front of the whole class would at least have curbed their antics somewhat. But not him. He resolutely and earnestly told the teacher, “I’m helping her build willpower. Our great Chairman Mao could read amidst the hustle and bustle without distraction. As little bookworms and top students, we should cultivate such unyielding focus and determination, don’t you think?”

Wen Zhixia lifted her eyes and glanced at him, thinking this person was exceptionally skilled at talking nonsense.

“Stop spouting nonsense here and stand at the back,” the teacher said, already exasperated just by looking at him.

Ever since this transfer student arrived, his visits to the classroom had doubled. Not for anything else, but because the little girls who didn’t study properly spent their days loitering outside the classroom door, just to catch a glimpse of the so-called new school heartthrob.

The teacher saw no virtue in him. He would always come in with injuries or leave bearing new ones, behaving like a small-time delinquent. Yet, if you reprimanded him or pressured him with academic results, he consistently performed quite well.

“Top student, help me plead my case—I twisted my ankle,” Gu Pingsheng said, poking Wen Zhixia as she read, lifting his foot with a dramatic gasp, playing the victim.

Wen Zhixia turned her body away, moving a little further to avoid falling for his act. “We’re not close,” she said.

Because they weren’t close, she wouldn’t help him.

Gu Pingsheng clenched his teeth, not playing the victim this time, but genuinely angered. This heartless bookworm.

As he stood at the back being punished, Wen Zhixia couldn’t help but glance at him lightly. That glance was caught by him—his narrow, charming eyes held a teasing smirk as he kicked his feet, flexing his ankle to show off his agility.

Clearly, the twisted ankle was a lie.

Wen Zhixia frowned slightly, moving the books he had encroached upon on her desk further away, drawing a clear boundary.

In her otherwise bland life, as plain as boiled water, Gu Pingsheng was like the persistent rainy season, casting overcast skies and continuous rain, stirring the once peaceful lake into lively waves.

Wen Zhixia had heard that once you begin to recall someone from the past with increasing frequency, it often means you are losing them.

Since Jiang Wanwan’s appearance, Wen Zhixia had intermittently started recalling past events. She thought perhaps many signs had already been present from the start.

When she shared this thought with Gu Pingsheng, he merely sneered. He was a man used to scheming and control, never one to believe in such sentiments.

The police investigation results came back: due to severe damage to the vehicle, the brakes were indeed compromised, but it was impossible to determine when the damage occurred. This could not be used as conclusive evidence, meaning Wen Zhixia’s involvement in a hit-and-run could not be ruled out.

Wen Zhixia’s suspicion could not be cleared, and the public remained intensely focused on the case online. The prosecutor had filed charges in court. The two elderly members of the Song family knelt before reporters, pleading for justice for their daughter.

Gu Xia Group’s stock price plummeted continuously. The board repeatedly issued warnings, and Gu Pingsheng’s phone never stopped ringing. As the absolute leader of the group, he was expected to step forward and provide explanations both to the employees and the board.

“President Gu, the board hopes you won’t let personal family matters cause immeasurable losses to the group,” Zhou Anbei said, speaking from a strictly rational perspective. He believed swift and decisive action was the best solution.

Gu Pingsheng was always decisive, but faced with such a clear-cut benefit-and-loss situation, he hesitated to make the right choice.

“The board? Since when did Gu Xia Group become theirs to command? Do you want to teach me how to run things?” His deep gaze pierced Zhou Anbei. His furrowed brow and cold expression revealed unmistakable displeasure.

For a man like Gu Pingsheng, naturally domineering and control-driven, he disliked interference in any of his decisions. This was why the board held little real power; he wielded absolute authority within the group.

The board, in his eyes, were merely enjoying dividends when the company prospered, but the moment their own interests were threatened, they wished for him to clear the obstacles.

Normally, Gu Pingsheng maintained a facade of harmony with them, but now... they dared to meddle in his family affairs!

“Your subordinate would never dare. But since you’ve hired me, President Gu, I have the duty to propose the optimal course of action,” Zhou Anbei explained.

“She is not a matter for decisions to be made,” Gu Pingsheng said, adjusting Zhou’s tie and patting his chest—not just a reminder but a warning: “She is my only choice.”

There was no optimal plan, for in his eyes, there was never a second option.

Zhou Anbei watched him walk away, hesitation flickering briefly in his eyes.

He had been entrenched in the world of interests too long. Calculating gains and losses had become second nature. To him, even emotions could be measured through the lens of benefit. As an absolute rational capitalist, sacrificing minor interests to maximize overall gains was the smart strategy.

In the business world, everyone knew the phrase closely associated with Gu Pingsheng, president of Gu Xia Group and a young, promising figure: “by any means necessary.”

The phrase “by any means necessary” was neutral—meaning a person could exhaust all measures for absolute gain, without praise or blame. As long as legal boundaries were respected, maximizing benefits for oneself and the group was heroic.

Zhou Anbei had always thought this way. But now Gu Pingsheng suddenly told him there was one exception in the realm of capital and interests—her name: Wen Zhixia.

This case exceeded Zhou Anbei’s usual thought patterns. He planned to inform Wen Zhixia of the group’s situation to see what choice she would make.

But he hadn’t expected that before he could do so, the board had already contacted Wen Zhixia.

They called her “Little President Wen” with apparent kindness, yet every word urged her to prioritize the bigger picture.

“Gu Xia Group is also the fruit of Little President Wen’s hard work. Now wolves surround us, many are waiting for Gu Xia Group to falter. The group is mired in public opinion; only Little President Wen can break the deadlock...” Their flattery piled on layer after layer, but at heart, it was all self-interest.

Wen Zhixia understood perfectly. She listened calmly, then replied lightly, “Break the deadlock? You want me to shoulder all responsibility and sever ties with Gu Xia Group?”

The company she had painstakingly built now demanded clear separation.

Originally, she had no intention of touching the group again since the day she resigned. But being forced into action like this felt deeply oppressive.

It was like a thirsty ox needing water—yet if you force its head down to drink, it only breeds a strong sense of oppression.

“When you all enjoyed the company’s dividends back then, your attitude was vastly different from now,” Wen Zhixia mocked.

Vastly different. A world apart.

The board’s smiles turned awkward, as if someone had jabbed them in the back.

Zhou Anbei quietly left the hospital room—it was clear he had overheard the conversation.

In the game of interests, there was never right or wrong. For capitalists, face was always expendable. As long as it benefited them, all was well. If it harmed their interests, they united to remove obstacles.

And to the board, Wen Zhixia was now that very obstacle.

Zhou Anbei wondered how long Gu Pingsheng could hold out under these circumstances.

Because from his perspective, no one but Gu Pingsheng himself believed in this marriage. Cutting losses early was the smart move, yet Gu Pingsheng tried single-handedly to turn the sinking ship around.

Wen Zhixia received Ye Lanzhou’s call on a drowsy afternoon.

He said only one sentence—the police had issued a missing person certificate.

Declared missing after no signs of life or body, once the public notice period ended, it would be legally recognized as... death.

Wen Zhixia tried to stand but staggered, nearly falling from the bed. She opened her mouth but could not utter a word. After a long, long silence, she finally managed a faint “Hmm.”

Neither of them spoke again.

Ye Lanzhou hung up. Wen Zhixia stared at her phone, the last chat screen with Hua Qianjiao frozen in her mind.

Song Yazhi was declared to be in a vegetative state. The Song family was devastated, suing Wen Zhixia for intentional injury, demanding 7 million in compensation and pressing for criminal charges.

Gu Pingsheng brought lawyers for private negotiations, but to no avail. The couple seemed brainwashed, firmly convinced Wen Zhixia was unforgivable and must pay for their daughter’s suffering. After that, they disappeared.

Unable to secure the victim’s forgiveness, the only option left was to find evidence to defend Wen Zhixia as an accident. Gu Pingsheng hired the best criminal defense team, sparing no expense to secure her acquittal in court.

Wen Zhixia was somewhat moved by his efforts, but some matters inevitably demanded a conclusion.

She placed the divorce agreement on the table. “Sign this, and I’ll cooperate with your defense.”

The lawyer paused, glanced at Gu Pingsheng whose expression had darkened instantly, then chose to leave first.